Monday, October 5, 2009

The Extraordinary Proposal


I started a new book on my lunch hour today by Shannon Ethridge, Completely His. I actually purchased it in the spring with a number of Shannon's other books, but am just discovering it's gems now. I got so excited about this particular revelation, I just had to share it with you. I have been in church most of my life and been taught on communion and the last supper countless times, but not with the understanding that only comes from knowing the traditions of the jewish people of Jesus' day.


In Jesus time, when a marriage was being negotiated and proposed, the bride to be did have a say in whether she would marry her potential groom. Once the price had been negotiated, the groom would poor a cup of wine and offer it to the bride. This was a pivotal moment, the bride could reject the cup and the groom would return to his  father's house rejected...or she would drink from the cup, signifying that she was willing to receive the groom's life and was offering hers in return. 
Once she drank from the cup, the groom would return to his father's house and proceed to build a room on to the home for himself and his bride, this is where the marriage was to be consummated. Only after the room was completed and everything was in order for the bride, would he return and receive his bride to himself.

Soooooo, after Jesus had spent time in the garden wrestling with God over the "price", he shared a meal with His disciples then poured the wine and offered the cup to each disciple...it was His proposal to his bride! After the disciples had received the cup accepting the proposal, Jesus  told them He was going away. The disciples were upset, but Jesus said:

"Don't be troubled, you trust God, now trust in me. There are many rooms in my Father's home, and I am going to prepare a place for you. If this were not so, I would tell you plainly. When everything is ready, I will come and get you so that you will always be with me where I am"
John 14:1-3

Talk about perspective! Not only was Jesus asking us to remember all that he did for us on the cross...(the price and all that it entitles us to), He was asking us to remember His proposal and our acceptance and that He is getting everything ready to come back and receive us as His bride for all eternity.

Does that not make communion an even more intimate and personal experience?

3 comments:

Maureen said...

Wow that really puts it in to perspective.
Thank you for sharing this with us.

Mom's Group said...

Wow!! I didn't know this. Beautiful. I won't forget...and will be dwelling on all of this the next time I take communion.

H
xo

Rhonda said...

I love that. I actually heard it from Mary Audrey Raycroft not that long ago out at Wesley Acres. She told the story then had us all do communion. Very impacting.